Risk Behaviour, Far Too Fatal to Mend?

‘Risk’ is almost synonymous with uncertain outcomes or consequences, which can rarely be predicted definitively. The word sure rings a bell to all those who leap into unfamiliar territory, regardless of the reasons. Some might glorify, romanticise, or paint it in a good light, while others take the opposite route. In comes another group advocating for calculated risk. All these would probably make sense professionally, perhaps regarding career or other areas of work, potentially offering returns that are just as rewarding. But this article delves into the behavioural aspect of it, where the cons outweigh the pros. Think of it as a rabbit hole. These behaviours expose their doers to greater harm over time as they get too preoccupied to reflect on their actions objectively or disengage from them.

Here, we discuss some of the many manifestations it could have. Substance abuse—smoking, drinking, and the like—acts as gateway drugs. Once a user, there’s a higher probability for them to use either greater amounts of it, other substances, or both. When a boundary is broken, especially one that has held its place since childhood, it gives way to greater shifts and negligible restraint since the boundary is no longer impenetrable. Tolerance and withdrawal set in, the former being the requirement of the substance in greater doses as the body gets accustomed and needs more of it to derive a ‘high’ while the latter is the compulsive need to use the substance repetitively. Online behaviour where privacy is compromised is also harmful. Hence the need to read privacy statements carefully. Rash driving screams risk, as does underage driving. We know deadlines matter, but so does your life. Lying and cheating, are brushed off as normal, but that doesn’t wipe the risk out of it either. Lying could be perceived as the means to an end. What’s worth noting is the intent here. When the value base is shaken, prompting us towards reckless behaviours, that’s where intentions cease to be noble any longer. Bunking, or truancy, would be familiar to a lot of people as a means to eliminate routine monotony. Unfortunately, they don’t present us with long-term solutions, do they? Physical violence, perhaps the most non-negotiable and objectionable form of risk behaviour, directly concerns other individuals besides the self.

These could have more than a single cause. For some, it is imbibed as social learning by observing family members, peers, or media portrayals. For others, it acts as their way of exploration, curiosity and thrill-seeking. Peer pressure and the need to ‘fit in’ to belong have long contributed to a herd mentality. Add to that the desire to rebel. Unmanaged stress, failures which aren’t met with a strategy, and fights or rifts in relationships which aren’t followed up with clarity are some of the underlying causes. Members of groups have their reasons. The illusion of invulnerability takes over as an overly optimistic mindset makes them ignore obvious danger. The illusion of morality masks second thoughts or ethical consequences. Collective rationalization enables discounting warnings. The illusion of unanimity amounts to greater mistakes as members feel they’re united in it. Stereotypes about other groups perceived as out-groups translate into misconduct with them. The direct pressure on dissenters who get criticised, ridiculed and mocked leads to self-censorship, wherein they stop voicing disagreement for fear of dislike. When self-appointed mind-guards try to protect the group from contradictory information, that acts as the stepping stone to wrong decisions.

Guilt or regret takes over. A lowered self-esteem reveals itself. Further involvement to riskier behaviours awaits. An academic, social, and professional decline is soon to follow as tolerance and withdrawal set in.

A solution-focused approach begins with self-awareness or knowing the self better through what one does or doesn’t enjoy, the company they prefer the most or least and why so, their idea of fun, what makes them feel good about themselves or what doesn’t, where they feel pressured to fit in, their greatest stressors and how they deal with it, their goals and priorities, and whether they make real choices to match who they are. The next step is to evaluate the risk through a long-term perspective by gathering accurate information and asking the right questions. One should think why they do what they do, what they hope to feel, how they usually feel, why they repeat the behaviour, whether it harms them or others around, what they stand to gain, and what else they could engage in. The final step is to express opinions as clearly and firmly possible without the intention of hurting others. Stating their own perspective, the reasons alongside thoughts and feelings, acknowledging what other people say, openness to compromising, maintaining eye contact which reinforces confidence and shrugging off the fear of saying ‘no’ work together to make a person assertive. The major difficulties in saying ‘no’ arise from others’ perceptions of us. True friends may not always go along but they may show their friend a mirror when the need arises. The goal is to be a true role model who leads by example.

Finding safer alternatives is key to safe thrill-seeking. Feeling in control rather than controlled, excited and nervous rather than anxious and dread, stronger and relaxed rather than unwell, a sense of maturity and achievement rather than guilt or regret, indicate the level of safety or risk something poses. The feeling of addictive dependence or withdrawal is of course, unhealthy. Accepting and confronting difficult situations helps me remain reality-oriented. Instead of bottling up emotions, developing a social support system that offers a safe space to unmute is highly desirable. With access to the right information, healthy lifestyles and the confidence to seek help when needed, we progress in the right direction. To keep at it would necessitate recognising risk behaviours as they are—a sort of slow poison and not something that makes them ‘cool.’ With this realization comes a need for accountability to oneself and a resolution to not go astray. That, is how we keep going.